How thin is too thin?: A proposed law in France would make fashion shows, magazines, websites and other entities responsible for showcasing models who display healthy body sizes as a way of combating eating disorders.Courtesy Peter DuhonWho’s responsible for the way people, especially young people, develop their concepts of body image?

That’s a huge question that French lawmakers are attempting to tackle. A bill is working its way through the French parliament that would make it illegal for anyone – magazines, website, advertisers – to “incite extreme thinness.”

The idea is one of the latest reactions to the 2006 death of an anorexic Brazilian model. And the bill is the toughest legal standard that’s been proposed in the wake of the growing recent concerns about super-thin bodies being shown in the fashion and glamour worlds. For instance, Spain last year banned ultra-thin models from appearing in live fashion shows. Sort of like boxing weigh-ins, models must weigh in before a fashion show and exceed minimum weight standards for their body size.

In the proposed French law, judges could level fines of up to $47,000 against offenders who promote extreme thinness. As an example, those responsible for a photo shoot involving an unhealthy thin model could face legal sanctions.

Clearly, there are two sides to this story. And people in the fashion and publishing world aren’t crazy about this concept, questioning if judges, or anyone, can determine who is too skinny.

And on another side of the issue, experts in anorexia say that media images are just one of many factors that can entice people, predominately young women, into unhealthy slimness.

What do you think? Is this a good role for government to play in the helping people have healthy body image development? Are there better strategies for dealing with this problem? Share your thoughts with other Science Buzz visitors.